The Honda Prologue Is 2024’s Shock EV Success Story

• Honda’s Prologue EV is new for 2024 and doing properly in gross sales already.
• It was shut in gross sales to the Ford Mustang Mach-E in Q3 and even handed the Hyundai Ioniq 5 in the identical interval. 
• Will Honda’s future EV technique have the ability to capitalize on the Prologue’s success?

You need to stand up fairly early within the morning to outfox the Ford Mustang Mach-E. It is spent a number of years now as one in every of America’s top-selling electrical autos that do not come from Tesla, and it took the highest non-Tesla crown this yr after the Chevrolet Bolt bowed out of the market. However now, and maybe unexpectedly, an unlikely competitor is gaining quick on the Mach-E: the Honda Prologue.

The latest evaluation of third-quarter U.S. electrical automobile gross sales knowledge from Cox Automotive has some very attention-grabbing development strains. One factor that stood out to us specifically was simply how properly the Prologue is doing in its first yr in the marketplace and as manufacturing actually begins to ramp up.

In line with the information, the Prologue grew to become America’s fifth best-selling EV in Q3, behind, so as, the Tesla Mannequin Y, Mannequin 3, Cybertruck and Mustang Mach-E. So for non-Tesla EV gross sales, which means the Prologue takes the silver medal. And with 12,644 Prologue gross sales in Q3, it was solely off the Mach-E’s numbers by 748 items. 

Granted, the Mach-E will most likely hold the non-Tesla chief standing by the yr’s finish as a result of it is simply been on sale in quantity for for much longer. However the truth that the Prologue is catching up so rapidly to a success just like the Mach-E says quite a bit about how a lot individuals need good electrical Hondas. 

I might additionally add that the Hyundai Ioniq 5 isn’t any gross sales slouch both, and, along with being one of many best-spec’d EVs round, appeared prefer it may probably take the non-Tesla gross sales chief place this yr. However now it has robust competitors too. 

This can be a good consequence for Honda’s first trendy EV, however maybe it is not too shocking. American automotive patrons nonetheless are likely to equate Honda and Toyota with being “inexperienced” automotive corporations since each have been such pioneers within the hybrid area (and nonetheless do very properly sales-wise with electrified fashions.) This summer time, we featured a survey that indicated Honda and Toyota have been thought of EV leaders within the U.S., regardless of each automakers being truly reluctant to embrace full electrification.

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Jeff Perez / Motor1

However clearly, individuals need good EVs from these manufacturers; on the months when good offers and reductions may very well be discovered, Toyota’s bZ4X confirmed huge progress. It is a clientele that wishes reliable and dependable expertise and might be extra inclined to “inexperienced” than followers of different automotive manufacturers. 

And the specs on the Prologue are fairly professional. With front- or dual-motor all-wheel-drive, as much as 296 miles of vary from its 85 kWh battery and a design that does not scream “I am an electrical spaceship,” Honda’s EV crossover hits a variety of candy spots for mainstream success. Honda is even throwing in a house EV charger and assist with some set up prices on the Prologue, making it form of a turnkey alternative for individuals going electrical for the primary time. 

Certain, beneath it truly makes use of Basic Motors’ EV platform and batteries, however I am undecided many purchasers know and even care. (And GM’s Ultium platform is robust by itself, with electrical gross sales from the American automaker displaying severe good points too.) 

Oh, and it has Apple CarPlay, not like GM’s EVs. No marvel it is doing properly. 

Honda

The query now could be what Honda’s electrical future will seem like. It is cleat that whereas the GM-based Prologue is common, it is also form of a stopgap till Honda can get its in-house EV operations up and working. That features enormous battery and automotive manufacturing hubs in Ohio and Canada and a novel method to EVs that goals to emphasise lighter weight, inside area and higher tech. However we’ve got questions on that method too, like whether or not these next-generation Honda EVs will look as on the market because the 0 Sequence Ideas that debuted at CES this yr, and what it means in the event that they launch with a costlier flagship sedan.

With a bit of luck, Honda will have the ability to ship one thing that may capitalize on the Prologue’s success. And as attention-grabbing because the 0 Sequence fashions may very well be, a moderately-priced, good-range household crossover may be the confirmed play as a substitute. 

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